A grouping of Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives has prevented the election of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House, by voting for a variety of other individuals, including Congressmen Byron Donalds and Kevin Hern as well as former President Trump, thereby ensuring that no candidate for the position receives a majority of votes. Shortly after 8 pm, the House adjourned until noon on Friday, after an eleventh vote failed to elect a Speaker.
Because of the enormous power exerted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the ongoing debate about who will fill that position is an actual debate on policy, including the Ukraine policy. Some specific demands are the separation of appropriations bills, to allow for debate and vote on individual aspects of government; the ability more easily to offer new amendments to bills from the floor of the House; and foreign policy.
